Neighbors: Neighbors making a difference

I thought you might like to hear about a few of our neighbors and their accomplishments today.

First, Cindy Gonzalez and Amy Britt, both of Greenfield, along with Tammy-Lynn Chace of Orange and Kerri Bohonowicz, who works in Franklin County, are among this year’s Smith College Leadership Pioneer Valley graduates. The women worked with 31 others to discuss all sorts of issues facing Franklin County and received certificates of graduation.

Congratulations to all!

Also, Allis Hutt of Northfield will participate in a pediatric cancer nanocourse at Stanford University as she begins her pursuit of a nursing degree. One of the goals of the course is to encourage and empower the next generation of scientists in a search for a cure for rare childhood cancers.

Good luck, Allison.

Finally, several Franklin County students recently received the annual McScholar Athlete Award from the Connecticut and Western Massachusetts McDonald’s Owner-Operator Association for being exemplary athletes in high school.

Those students are: Niko Ames and Taryn Marquis from Frontier Regional High School in South Deerfield; Samuel Guiod and Alexis Silk from Greenfield High School; Robert Buoniconti and Ashley Pierce from Mohawk Trail Regional High School in Buckland; Christopher Gilbert and Savannah Sojka from Pioneer Valley Regional School in Northfield; Daniel Bergman and Lyndsy Paluk from Ralph C. Mahar Regional High School in Orange; and Samuel Danford and Courtney Eugin from Turners Falls High School (my alma mater, Class of 1976).

Principals nominate one male and one female athlete, who are graduating seniors, each year. Their choices are based on grades, participation in a varsity sport and school and community citizenship.

Nice work, all of you!

DID YOU HAVE A BEST FRIEND when you were in school? Do you have a photo of you and your best friend? If so, please contact The Recorder Editor Chris Harris because she’d like to share it with readers in an upcoming “Back to School” supplement.

She is also looking for your “best friend tips” to share with today’s children — for instance, how do you make a best friend? How do you be a best friend?

You can reach Chris at 413-772-0261, ext. 265 or: charris@recorder.com.

FRIENDS OF GREENFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY will be selling raffle tickets today at Foster’s Super Market on the corner of Conway and Allen streets. Some of the items include a Hale Johnson framed and matted print worth $850 and a Marjorie Reid quilt.

Tickets are one for $5 or three for $10. The drawing will be at the Friends Fall Event on Nov. 8 at the Country Club of Greenfield.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE GARDEN TOUR in Northfield on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 or two for $25, so bring along a friend or family member.

You can pick up maps, tickets and directions at Northfield Historical Society Museum, 13 Pine St. Proceeds will benefit the museum and its programs.

For more information, call Joanne at 413-498-4338 or Sue at 413-498-2700.

MONTAGUE COMMUNITY BAND WILL HOLD CONCERTS in Peskeom skut Park on Avenue A in Turners Falls on Monday and July 21. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. and rain cancels a concert.

The band will also perform on the Town Common in Walpole, N.H. on Aug. 10 at 6:30 p.m.

LOCAL BODYWORKERS WILL HONOR FIRST RESPONDERS on Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Greenfield fire station’s upstairs common room at 412 Main St. in Greenfield. All first responders should attend the EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week event.

Each first responder will receive a free, relaxing 15-minute bodywork session from Janet Masucci, Margaret Olin or Karen Traub. If you are a first responder, you can reserve a session by calling Janet at 413-863-8694 or emailing her at: jmasucci@msn.com.

What a wonderful way to show appreciation to our heroes.

BOY SCOUT TROOP 10, whose charter sponsor is Mary Lyon Church in Buckland, will hold a pig roast at the church, 17 Upper St., on July 19 at 6 p.m. The menu includes pork, coleslaw, homemade baked beans, baked potato and rolls. Dessert will be a brownie sundae.

The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Proceeds will go toward purchasing new camping equipment for the troop.

For reservations, call Pam at 413-625-2183.

TURNERS FALLS RIVER CULTURE is looking for food and craft vendors for its block party on Aug. 2 from 2 to 8 p.m. on Avenue A. There will be live music at Spinner Park, along with lots of crafts and festival food.

THE SOUTH DEERFIELD WOMEN’S CLUB annual tag sale will be Oct. 4 this year. The sale is typically held in June, so members wanted you to know that you didn’t miss it.

Also this year, the tag sale will be held at South Deerfield Congregational Church on North Main St. More details will follow at a later date.

To contact Anita Fritz, a staff reporter at The Recorder, send an email to: franklincountyneighbors@gmail.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 280. You can also reach Anita on Facebook at Anita’s Neighbors. Information to be included in Neighbors may also be sent to: neighbors@recorder.com up to noon two days before you want it to run.